Original Research: Social Responsibility and Education
The development of socially responsible life-sciences teachers through community service learning.
Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Natuurwetenskap en Tegnologie | Vol 31, No 1 | a363 |
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/satnt.v31i1.363
| © 2012 J.J. Rian de Villiers
| This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 14 June 2012 | Published: 08 October 2012
Submitted: 14 June 2012 | Published: 08 October 2012
About the author(s)
J.J. Rian de Villiers, University of Pretoria, South AfricaAbstract
In South Africa, polices in higher education are urging tertiary institutions to produce graduates who are socially responsible citizens. One method of achieving this is through service-learning initiatives. Zoos as community partners can provide exciting educational opportunities for students to do animal behaviour studies and to develop their social responsibility. A sample of 58 preservice life-sciences teachers from a South African university completed a questionnaire on their animal behaviour studies. This study sought to determine how animal behaviour studies could successfully be incorporated as a community service-learning project in a zoo setting, what the educational value of these studies was and what the benefits were of incorporating this community service-learning component in the life-sciences course. The incorporation of the service-learning component into the zoology course led to the students’ personal and professional development, knowledge about themselves, sensitivity to cultural diversity, civic responsibility and insights into the ways in which communities operate. For a successful service-learning project, lectures, students and community partners should all have a sense of engagement. A number of suggestions are made to improve the incorporation of this service-learning component into the existing zoology course.
Keywords
Biologie; studente; sosiaal-aanspreeklik; diensleer; gemeeskapsvennote
Metrics
Total abstract views: 2103Total article views: 7211
Reader Comments
Before posting a comment, read our privacy policy.Post a comment (login required)